Washington makes Cardinals roster after 11 seasons in minors

KRISTIE RIEKEN

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, April 8, 2008

AP Sports Writer

Annie Marie Washington spent 11 years on dialysis after kidney failure before succumbing to her illness in 2004. Her youngest son, Rico Washington, toiled in the minors for that exact number of years before making the St. Louis Cardinals roster this season.

The perspective gained from watching his mother fight her illness for years while rarely missing a day of work at a Georgia nursing home makes his winding and often bumpy path to the majors seem rather inconsequential.

"She never gave up and she just continued to work hard even though she was sick," he said. "I think watching her go through what she went through inspired me to continue working hard and know that one day it will pay off.

"And it finally did."

Just more than a month shy of his 30th birthday, his hair is thinning on top, but the monotony of countless miles of bus rides and stops in at least a dozen cities including Hickory, N.C. and Lynchburg, Va. haven't dimmed his youthful exuberance. He smiles easily and often and his brown eyes sparkle when he recounts the day manager Tony La Russa gave him the news.

"I really didn't know what to expect. I thought I was going back to the minors," he said. "I was just so stunned and I was very emotional. I didn't know what to say. It took me a minute for it to sink in. The day finally came and my dream finally came true. I was going to be in the big leagues for the first time."

Then he went outside and wept.

Bring up Washington to almost anyone in the Cardinals organization and it brings a smile to their face. Even La Russa, a hardened veteran of almost 45 seasons, can't help but grin.

"He's a nice player," La Russa said, adding that his attitude is a key to his success. "He just refused to give in. Telling him he made the team was the neatest part of the season so far."

It was the culmination of a quest that began in 1997 when the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Washington in the 10th round out of high school. By the time he donned the Cardinals uniform on opening day last week he had played 1,134 games and logged 3,980 at-bats in the minor league systems of Pittsburgh, San Diego, Tampa Bay and St. Louis.

He never thought about quitting and always believed he'd one day play in the majors.

"It never crossed my mind that I wouldn't make it," he said. "When you have on a uniform and you're playing the game, no matter what level you're at, you have an opportunity. You never know when your time is going to come."

Barry Veal, his baseball coach at Jones County High School in tiny Gray, Ga., is one person who has been with him for the entire journey. His first year at the school was Washington's freshman year, and the smallish player (5-foot-9) developed into his star pitcher with a 92 mph fastball.

Washington's father wasn't in his life, so the then-single Veal became a sort of surrogate dad. Annie Marie, who never missed a game, encouraged the relationship and told the coach to "treat him like he's yours."

"To see all the time and work he put it, I was just so happy for him," said Veal who was in St. Louis for his debut last week. "It meant so much to him to finally make it."

Veal got a text message from Washington a couple of days before the final cuts that read, "Coach. I think I got a chance. Pray for me."

Washington's longest stretch in one place was the three seasons he spent with Double-A Altoona from 2000-02. He hasn't lost track, though. Ask him to name all his stops and he recites them in order and even includes the year he was there.

The dizzying array of teams had to have been daunting. At one point during his recitation he said he was "stationed in Montgomery," as if he were in the military instead of on a baseball team.

"To me it wasn't bad," he said. "You're getting to play the game you love. When you compare it to people that work a 9-to-5 job and hate it, you're really pretty lucky to be making a living in the minors.

"All in all, nothing really compares to being in the major league, so what you go through in the minors is actually worth it when you get there."

Washington has played each infield position in his career, but has spent the most time at third base. His spot on the team is likely the one that would have went to Brendan Ryan, who is on the disabled list with a ribcage injury.

Washington spent last season with Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, but played just 79 games because of a fractured cheekbone and finished with 11 homers and 43 RBIs.

He made his big league debut April 1 by grounding out as a pinch hitter in the Cardinals' 2-1 loss to Colorado. His first hit came the next night, an RBI single in an 8-3 win over Colorado.

"It's been everything I imagined it would be and more," Washington said. "It's just amazing being here."

But he knows that his fairy tale could end just as soon as it began.

"I just want to do my best and help my teammates win any way I can," he said. "I've been doing it for a while and I've got to just continue what I've been doing all these years."